By. Zechariah Makuach Maror
In the country of South Sudan, there is a group of politicians who have not been successful in public endeavors yet they want everything to pass through their fingertips. These failed politicians have been targeting Benjamin Bol Mel, calling him names like “rat” and other derogatory terms. However, it is important for us to pause and consider the situation more deeply.
Benjamin Bol Mel is being accused of corruption, with little to show for the resources he has accumulated during his monopolized time in the national government. Former corrupt officials in the government, now critics of Bol Mel, like Lual Achuil and Aleu Anyieny Aleu are quick to point fingers, claiming that he is the epitome of corruption in the country. They highlight projects like the substandard Bor road and the slow construction of the Bahr el Ghazal road projects as proof of his wrongdoings.
But if we take a closer look, we may find that the accusers themselves have a questionable track record. Joseph Lual Achuil and Aleu Anyieny Aleu have been part of the government for many years, yet they have nothing to show for the money they have been entrusted with. They have been accused of embezzling funds and mismanaging resources, much like the accusations they are hurling at Benjamin Bol Mel, yet they have nothing sub-standard to show unlike Benjamin Bol Mel who can show us sub-standard Bor and slow construction of Bahr El Ghazal roads respectively.
Since Lual Achuil was the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management at the time, his name appears on the historic letter President Kiir Mayardit wrote to all 75 corrupt officials who embezzled public funds between 2011 and 2013 the letter contain asked the officials to return the public funds they embezzled. The ministry of disaster management and humanitarian affairs is still housed in container offices as of right now. Did Lual Achuil build a minstry premises? The genuine ministry rat mammal can attest to the fact that Lualdit did not construct anything, not even a toilet at site of the ministry.
Aleu Anyieny Aleu, a self-centred politicians who has failed in the ministry of Interior and governorat of Warrap State is also shameless to use his finger as a pointer of corruption, whether he is good civil servants or not would be seen in the the deplorable situation our organized forces suchlike police and prison services are in.
Generally, when comparing the projects overseen by Bol Mel to the so-called “white elephant” projects that have plagued the country since 2005, it becomes difficult to believe the criticisms leveled against him, I believe, President Kiir Mayardit has rights to trust Benjamin Bol Mel more than anyone including Lualdit and Aleudit. While there may be issues with the projects he has overseen, it is important to remember that corruption is a widespread problem in South Sudan, and it is unfair to single out one individual without examining the larger context, Bol Mel has little achievements to show for the resources he embezzled unlike others who have nothing at all.
Finally, it is essential for former officials to approach accusations of corruption with caution and skepticism. The failed politicians who are targeting Benjamin Bol Mel may have their own skeletons in the closet. Before we rush to judgment, we should consider the broader issues at play and strive for a more nuanced understanding of the situation. After all, the fight against corruption in South Sudan requires more than just pointing fingers; it requires a commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity from all individuals involved in governance.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩 ThejubaMirror Editorial team
